This digest covers space-related developments from September 21 to 27, 2025, summarizing key advances, announcements, launches, and policy shifts across the global space sector.
Weekly Metrics Snapshot
This week saw 9 orbital launches across 2 countries, deploying 137 satellites into orbit. Notable milestones included the launch of NASA’s heliophysics probe (IMAP) with two rideshare satellites and multiple SpaceX/ULA missions deploying Project Kuiper and Starshield payloads for U.S. agencies, as well as Chinese launches of meteorology (FY-3H) and communications (Guowang-5) satellites.
This Week’s Top Stories
NASA launches IMAP heliophysics mission and two additional satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off Sept 24 from Cape Canaveral carrying NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) along with two secondary payloads (the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 weather satellite). IMAP will study the heliosphere and solar wind, helping improve space weather forecasts critical for satellite operations and astronaut safety. read more
SpaceX/NRO launch 11 Starshield satellites (NROL-48)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg on Sept 22 carrying 11 small satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), believed to be the government’s new “Starshield” constellation. These satellites (derivatives of Starlink hardware) will enhance U.S. missile warning and other intelligence networks, representing a growing trend toward proliferated LEO constellations for defense. read more
ULA launches 27 Amazon Kuiper broadband satellites
On Sept 25 United Launch Alliance sent an Atlas V (AV-108) into orbit from Cape Canaveral, delivering 27 more Amazon Project Kuiper internet-beaming satellites (Kuiper-3 mission). This marked ULA’s fifth Kuiper launch (using Atlas V) and brings Amazon’s constellation to 129 satellites, a step toward providing global broadband service. ULA will use its future Vulcan rocket for later Kuiper flights. read more
NASA & Sierra Space revise Dream Chaser resupply plans
On Sept 26 NASA announced it has modified its Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract with Sierra Space, delaying the first Dream Chaser cargo spaceplane flight to late 2026 and eliminating its planned docking with the ISS. Instead, the vehicle (“Tenacity”) will fly autonomously as a free-flyer demonstration. Sierra Space said the change, agreed with NASA, will allow testing of the spaceplane’s capabilities, including potential defense and commercial applications. read more
China launches Fengyun-3H weather satellite
On Sept 27 China launched the Fengyun-3H polar-orbiting meteorological satellite aboard a Long March 4C rocket from Jiuquan. FY-3H joins China’s polar orbiting weather satellite network, replacing FY-3D and enhancing global climate and environment monitoring with advanced sensors. (Also on Sept 27, a Chinese Long March 6A placed five Guowang-5 communications satellites into Sun-synchronous orbit.) read more
In Case You Missed It
- SpaceX launched 28 Starlink internet satellites on a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (Sept 25) read more
- SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg (Sept 26) read more
- NASA named its 24th class of astronaut candidates (Sept 22) read more
- Two Chinese astronauts performed a 6-hour spacewalk (Sept 26) to install additional debris shielding on the Tiangong station read more
Upcoming Events
- Blue Origin New Shepard NS-36 (Oct 8, 2025): Fifteenth crewed New Shepard suborbital flight for space tourists read more
- SpaceX Starship Flight 11 (NET late 2025): Next orbital test of the Starship/Super Heavy megarocket read more
- ISRO CMS-02 (GSAT-7R) mission (Oct 16, 2025): Indian LVM-3 to launch new naval communications satellite for India’s Navy read more
- JAXA HTV-X1 launch (Oct 21, 2025): Japan to launch next-generation cargo spacecraft to ISS on an H3 rocket read more
- SpaceX Bandwagon-4 (NET Oct 2025): Falcon 9 dedicated rideshare with dozens of small satellites to LEO read more
- NASA ESCAPADE mission (NET late 2025): Launch of twin Mars plasma physics spacecraft on Blue Origin’s New Glenn read more
- Sentinel-6B launch (Nov 2025): NOAA/NASA/ESA radar-altimetry satellite to extend sea-level monitoring read more
- Soyuz MS-28 launch (Nov 27, 2025): Crew of two Roscosmos cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut to ISS read more
Key Takeaways
- US space activity remained robust, with multiple SpaceX and ULA launches deploying dozens of satellites for global internet (Starlink, Kuiper) and defense (NRO Starshield) networks, as well as a new heliophysics mission (NASA’s IMAP) to improve space weather forecasting.
- China continued expanding its civil space infrastructure, launching advanced weather (Fengyun) and communications (Guowang) satellites and progressing its crewed Tiangong station program with another spacewalk.
- Developments in commercial space showed both momentum and challenges: Amazon’s broadband constellation grew with another batch of Kuiper satellites, and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser program pivoted toward a longer test timeline and defense applications.
- Upcoming months are busy, with new heavy-lift vehicles (Starship, H3, New Glenn) poised to enter service, new ISS resupply and crew missions, and international Earth observation launches like Sentinel-6B, reflecting a diverse and global launch manifest.
